Are you tired of missing out on important information while you take notes? You could be in a lecture or a meeting, and no matter how hard you try, you can't seem to grasp every sentence.
The average lecturer speaks approximately at a rate of 120 to 180 words per minute. This rate is too fast for most note-takers, who, on average, can type at just 33 words per minute.
Trying to write down each and every word is almost impossible as you might find it hard to keep up. Here, you will find ways to take faster notes.
1. Summarize
The key is to write down the most important ideas of the information being given to you. Summarizing the information you are receiving makes for a simpler, more organized approach than scribbling down everything in paragraphs.
When you write notes through summary, your notes will be much shorter, and you will understand the information even better because you are processing the information as you break it down, instead of trying to copy the information word for word. Here are a few summarizing tips to keep in mind:
- Break your notes down into a logical list of key ideas.
- Use bulleted and numbered lists to expand on them.
- Use keywords and phrases instead of full sentences.
2. Mind-Mapping
Sometimes words are just not enough to plot a map of an idea or a thought process. You need a visual way to see how different ideas fit together and how they interact with each other.
If writing lists and sentences aren't working out too well for you, you can try a creative approach to note-taking through mind mapping. Mind-mapping allows you to see the overall structure of a certain subject.
Mind-mapping can also help you in connecting ideas within that subject. You can use a mind-map when you need to quickly highlight important ideas. If you don’t know where to start, you can use free mind map tools to help you.
3. Use Symbols and Abbreviations
You already know how symbols and abbreviations work. It's just a matter of adding them to your workflow to speed things up. Use symbols such as; @ for at, * for important, $ for money, != for not equal to, # for numbers, wt for weight, info for information, and so on. Sometimes you might not be aware of universal abbreviations for certain words.
Another trick to save time while writing notes or typing them is dropping vowels from words. Your eyes will still read the words just fine. Of course, you have to be selective about which vowels to drop while ensuring the readability of the text.
For example:
- lawn mower = lwn mwr (readable)
- automobile = atmbl (unreadable), autombl (readable)
4. Bullet Journal
If you are looking for a way to organize your notes that are dedicated to planning. Maybe it’s time that you adopt a system that comes with guidelines for taking notes and creating outlines.
Bullet Journaling is a good place to start. You are able to get things out of your head and track them in a systematic way. This way, you can stay on track with your to-do list or any other important notes you need to remember. For effortless bullet journaling, you can use bullet journaling apps.
A bullet journal serves as a combination of a daily planner, to-do list, and a diary, using a set of symbols to distinguish between tasks, events, notes, etc. Without prior knowledge or use of bullet journaling, it can seem like a complex approach to organizing your notes.
However, once you get the hang of it, you will realize that this system is much better than having a ton of different tools, calendars, and planners to stay organized. A bullet journal may actually be much simpler.
5. Keep a Notebook Handy
Using a pen and paper might not seem like the fastest way to take notes. Smart devices and apps are great, but what happens when your laptop or phone battery dies? Having a notepad ready to go at all times saves you from fumbling around for a blank surface to write on.
Using a Notebook also saves you from the distractions of the digital world, your smart devices are constantly ringing and buzzing with notifications. Using your notebook could turn out to be a more productive note-taking method.
6. Use a Speech-to-Text App
Using speech-to-text apps might be the fastest way to take notes, simply because you are not doing any of the hard work. Imagine being in an hour-long video conferencing session, and you are getting a huge load of information that you know you won’t remember.
It can be beneficial to have a transcription of that session. A text version of your meeting can make your life easier, especially if you’re looking for a specific part of an hour-long session.
Use the Google Docs Voice Typing Feature
Google Docs has a voice typing feature that turns speech into text. This can be useful if you already use Google Docs regularly. The voice typing feature allows you to pay attention to the information that you are getting. Meanwhile, Google Docs will take notes on your behalf.
Although this is a great feature, you can not completely neglect the app while using the voice typing feature. It is important to ensure that the correct information is being converted to text.
Here’s how to use voice typing as a transcription tool:
- Open a new Google Doc.
- Select Tools.
- In the tools bar, select Voice typing.
- Click on the link above the microphone icon to choose your language.
- Click on the microphone icon to start recording. The microphone will turn red and begin transcribing.
What's Your Note-Taking Strategy?
Whether you appreciate the traditional method of taking notes or you prefer to use digital notepads, there is an awesome note-taking workflow out there for you.
It is also important to note that you do not have to stick to one note-taking strategy, as you can combine the two and use both to your advantage.
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